The United States has imposed sanctions on an individual and a company in Bosnia and Herzegovina, accusing them of supporting a corruption network in the country that is attempting to evade US sanctions.
The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that this network is directly connected to Igor Dodik, the son of Milorad Dodik, the sanctioned president of the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska (RS).
The sanctions announcement coincided with Milorad Dodik’s congratulatory message to the newly elected US president, Donald Trump.
“The United States remains committed to highlighting the efforts of Dodik and his family to preserve their corruption networks,” the OFAC statement read.
The new sanctions target Vladimir Perishiq and the company “Elpring doo Laktaši.”
OFAC stated that Milorad Dodik has used his official position for years to amass personal wealth through companies linked to him and his son Igor.
“This corruption has contributed to undermining public trust in Bosnia’s state institutions and the rule of law,” the statement said.
“President of RS, Milorad Dodik, his associates, and enablers continue to use their privileged positions to erode public confidence in regional peace frameworks and institutions that have brought stability and security to Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the US Treasury Department.
Following the sanctioning of the “Kaldera” company on June 18, 2024, Igor Dodik ordered Millenko Qičić, who had previously been on the sanctions list, to establish the company “Elpring doo Laktaši,” which was intended to replace “Kaldera.”
With Igor’s approval, Qičić founded the company “Elpring” and coordinated the transfer of all assets and operations from “Kaldera,” including its employees.
On June 18, five companies linked to the Dodik family were added to the US blacklist.
The United States placed Milorad Dodik on the sanctions list on January 5, 2022, for his direct or indirect involvement in violating or obstructing the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, as well as for corrupt activities.
Dodik was previously sanctioned on July 17, 2017, for obstructing or threatening to obstruct the Dayton Agreement. /REL
